Monday 15 December 2014

#DecentJobsWeek: Too poor to be off sick | ToUChstone blog: A public policy blog from the TUC

#DecentJobsWeek: Too poor to be off sick | ToUChstone blog: A public policy blog from the TUC



15 Dec 2014, by  in Working Life
Decent Jobs WeekUntil recently all of us assumed that when we are off sick we would still be paid, whether through a sick pay scheme negotiated by a trade union, through a company sick pay policy or, in the absence of these, through statutory sick pay (SSP).


Thursday 11 December 2014

People With Mental Health Problems Hammered By Sickness Benefit Sanctions | Welfare Weekly

People With Mental Health Problems Hammered By Sickness Benefit Sanctions | Welfare Weekly



More than 60% of adverse Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
sanctions decisions made during the first three months of 2014 were
against people with mental health issues or behavioral problems, new
figures show.




 

People With Mental Health Problems Hammered By Sickness Benefit Sanctions | Welfare Weekly

People With Mental Health Problems Hammered By Sickness Benefit Sanctions | Welfare Weekly



More than 60% of adverse Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
sanctions decisions made during the first three months of 2014 were
against people with mental health issues or behavioral problems, new
figures show.




 

Wednesday 10 December 2014

A Class War Is Raging in Britain, But Only One Side Is Taking Punches | John Wight

A Class War Is Raging in Britain, But Only One Side Is Taking Punches | John Wight



 Go into any supermarket in the run up to Christmas and you will likely
see a shopping trolley by the door designated for donations to your
local foodbank. For many of us the idea of walking past it without
donating jars, forcing us to wrestle with a conscience that is
particularly sensitive to poverty and need at a time of year when excess
and greed is encouraged in advertising campaigns which leave no stone
unturned when it comes to manipulation and mawkish sentimentalism.

The fatal flaw in the anti-tobacco lobby’s thesis | Columnists | BDlive

The fatal flaw in the anti-tobacco lobby’s thesis | Columnists | BDlive



  SMOKING may be the greatest cause of health disinformation, with liquor
second, followed by sugar, salt, junk food, obesity, sedentary
lifestyle, alternative or complementary healthcare and traditional
healing



Thursday 4 December 2014

Four Horsemen - Feature Documentary - Official Version - YouTube

Four Horsemen - Feature Documentary - Official Version - YouTube





Published on 13 Sep 2013
FOUR HORSEMEN is an award winning independent feature documentary which lifts the lid on how the world really works.

As we will never return to 'business as usual' 23 international thinkers, government advisors and Wall Street money-men break their silence and explain how to establish a moral and just society.

FOUR HORSEMEN is free from mainstream media propaganda -- the film doesn't bash bankers, criticise politicians or get involved in conspiracy theories. It ignites the debate about how to usher a new economic paradigm into the world which would dramatically improve the quality of life for billions.

"It's Inside Job with bells on, and a frequently compelling thesis thanks to Ashcroft's crack team of talking heads -- economists, whistleblowers and Noam Chomsky, all talking with candour and clarity." - Total Film

"Four Horsemen is a breathtakingly composed jeremiad against the folly of Neo-classical economics and the threats it represents to all we should hold dear."
- Harold Crooks, The Corporation (Co-Director) Surviving Progress (Co-Director/Co-Writer)

Tuesday 2 December 2014

Coalition crimes – the great cover-up | Vox Political

Coalition crimes – the great cover-up | Vox Political



Every government needs checks and balances to prevent abuse of power, and judicial review can be one of the most powerful of these – that’s why the Conservative-led Coalition Government is trying to withhold it from ordinary people.




Saturday 29 November 2014

ZEITGEIST: MOVING FORWARD | OFFICIAL RELEASE | 2011 - YouTube

ZEITGEIST: MOVING FORWARD | OFFICIAL RELEASE | 2011 - YouTube




Privatisation: People vs Politicians | We Own It

Privatisation: People vs Politicians | We Own It



There's a big gap between politicians and the rest of us when it comes to privatisation and outsourcing. We've graded the political parties out of three on a range of popular policies that would give us a say over our public services - and shown how each party matches up to what the public wants. 

Friday 21 November 2014

Is the smoking ban to blame for the high rate of pub closures? | Institute of Economic Affairs

Is the smoking ban to blame for the high rate of pub closures? | Institute of Economic Affairs



Labour leadership candidate David Miliband has been posing as the champion of the Great British pub, saying he can save it by confronting large breweries over the beer tie. Under the beer tie, a landlord might pay £130-£140 for 88 pints of beer, while a freeholder might pay £60-£80. Cheap supermarket drinks have also been blamed for the recent spate of pub closures, as well as the recession of course.
However, figures from the British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA) suggest that these factors may be relatively unimportant. The smoking ban is probably the main reason for the recent decimation of pubs and may be primarily responsible for 3 in 4 closures.

Saturday 15 November 2014

People stripped of benefits could be charged for challenging decision | Politics | The Guardian

People stripped of benefits could be charged for challenging decision | Politics | The Guardian



Critics argue that proposal in leaked document from Department for Work and Pensions would hit poorest people in the country

Six myths about how the unions are ruining Britain - The People's Assembly Against Austerity

Six myths about how the unions are ruining Britain - The People's Assembly Against Austerity



The Daily Mail front page caught my eye yesterday: it announced that trade unions were now paying their members to go on strike. I confess to being almost impressed at that infernal organ's ability to alchemise scandals out of the prosaic, and it got me thinking about the other myths that are commonly peddled about trade unions. Let's have a look at six regulars, and give them a good old busting.

What you’re not being told about Europe’s verdict on social security | Vox Political

What you’re not being told about Europe’s verdict on social security | Vox Political





“Manifestly inadequate” are words that should ring in Iain Duncan Smith’s ears for some time to come.

Tuesday 11 November 2014

Just Dial Agency - Cheap International Calls

Just Dial Agency - Cheap International Calls



Our aim is to help everyone make fatastic savings on telephone calls.
An instant dial service that allows callers to dial internationally for the price of a national call. Go to the Just Dial Logo below to find out more......




Give men and women the option to retire at 60 with a state pension | Campaigns by You

Give men and women the option to retire at 60 with a state pension | Campaigns by You



Make the optional retirement age 60 for men and women in the UK.  Many workers are not fit enough to continue beyond that age.

Why is this important?

People who reach age 60 and are unemployed have very little chance of finding employment.  Technology alone will account for too many redundancies.  Youth unemployment is at an all time high and in many cases earlier retirement will free up jobs for them.  Many of the younger generation need to be given a chance to work and raising the retirement age is only making things worse for them.

Thursday 30 October 2014

The Vikings Are Coming!

The Vikings Are Coming!



139 Old Norse Words That Invaded The English Language



When I say “Old English” what comes to mind? The ornate, hard-to-read script? Reading Beowulf in your high school English class? The kinds of figurative compound nouns – or kennings – like “swan of blood” and “slaughter-dew” that have sustained heavy metal lyrics for decades?

Monday 15 September 2014

AAV: Why the Liberal Democrats are just as compassionle...

AAV: Why the Liberal Democrats are just as compassionle...: The Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg inspired me to write this article by informing listeners to his talk radio show that " we w...